UPE Merced Unit 3 Reaches Tentative Agreement on New Contract with Merced County

Your UPE Merced Unit 3 Bargaining Team is pleased to announce we have reached a tentative agreement with the County on a new two year contract!

The agreement secures a double-digit raise for the next two years. In the first year, members of Bargaining Unit 3 will receive a 7% raise, followed by a 3% raise in the second year. These wage increases will not apply to classifications that have already received, or will continue to receive, salary adjustments of 10% or more due to SB 525 in June 2026 and June 2028.

In order to ensure Merced Unit 3 members receive these increases as soon as possible, your UPE Merced Unit 3 Bargaining Team will be holding a membership meeting and ratification vote from 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday April 28, 2025 in the Board of Supervisors Chamber at 2222 M Street.   The meeting and vote are open to all UPE members but non-members can sign up at the meeting.  Please come, learn about the tentative agreement, and cast your vote! 

Merced Unit 3 Tentative Agreement Summary 2025

1. Two Year Agreement from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.

2. Salary Increase:

   1. 7% increase effective pay period starting May 5, 2025 (May 23rd Paycheck)

   2. 3% increase effective pay period 15 of 2026

3. 3% Increase to healthcare caps effective 1st full pay period which includes January 1, 2026

4. 3% Increase to healthcare caps effective 1st full pay period which includes January 1, 2026

5. New employees will have previous years of service with other government agencies count towards Merced County years of service for vacation accrual purposes.

6. Move certain language from the MOU into the County’s HR Rules and Regulations. This includes provisions related to working hours, overtime, holidays, sick leave, employee development, behavioral health differentials, evening/night shift, on-call time, call-back time, and bilingual pay differentials. Maintains ability to grieve any violations of these provisions.